Throughout Holy Week, most sacred time in Christianity, ‘Jesus was on the radar’ as an enemy

Holy Week is the most sacred time in Christianity. From Palm Sunday to the victory of Easter seven days later is what defines the religion. 

There isn’t a Christian faith with out the resurrection of Jesus. And there’s no resurrection with out his crucifixion — and no crucifixion with out understanding why, just some days earlier than his arrest, Jesus was hailed as a hero when he entered Jerusalem with throngs waving palms and shouting hosannahs.

Biblical scholar Dr. Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, an adjunct professor on the Franciscan College of Theology on the College of San Diego, mentioned that what Jesus did just some miles from Jerusalem is vital to understanding Palm Sunday and the whole thing of the week. Jesus raised Lazaurus from the lifeless.

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“It says within the Scriptures,” she mentioned. “John tells us that it is due to the elevating of Lazarus that Jesus obtained this sort of welcome as he entered into Jerusalem. And when he will get hailed … because the Messiah, which had quite a lot of political overtones in these days, that is when the Jewish leaders mentioned, ‘You see, the entire world goes after him. We’ve got to do one thing about it. We’ve got to cease him.’”

Constantinou is an skilled on historical Jewish and Roman legislation.  She has six levels, together with a legislation diploma. In her e-book, “The Crucifixion of the King of Glory,” she uncovers the political intrigue that condemned Jesus.  

Clergy and parishioners are proven holding palms throughout the procession as a part of a Palm Sunday service.  (iStock)

On an upcoming episode of “Lighthouse Religion” podcast, she talks in regards to the e-book, which is an historic nonfiction narrative however delves into all of the twists and turns of any crime drama, with characters fulfilling roles of infamy. There’s the jealous spiritual leaders fearing lack of energy, the corporate man involved about maintaining his job and maintaining order … and a betrayer whose love of wealth overcomes his love for a good friend.  

Jesus was on their radar lengthy earlier than he entered Jerusalem. 

For 3 years Jesus had been gaining followers in countryside cities and distant areas therapeutic the sick, blind and crippled. The Jewish individuals beloved him. However the spiritual leaders, the Pharisees, Saducees, scribes and elders feared his affect.  

He was on their radar lengthy earlier than he entered Jerusalem. However now that he was near their residence base, a confrontation was imminent. That they had essentially the most to lose if the individuals started following this itinerant rabbi who had no formal coaching.

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Constantinou is Greek Orthodox, married to an orthodox priest. 

She instructed “Lighthouse Religion,” “The Orthodox Church is the oldest steady church. It goes again to the time of the apostles. Now, after all, that is what Catholics say, too, however Catholicism has modified tremendously over the centuries. Anyone who visits an Orthodox church will see that it’s like stepping again in time to the early church.”

Even in America, the devoted nonetheless hear the New Testomony learn within the unique Greek language. It is that tie to the primary century and understanding its cultural norms that makes Constantinou’s narrative distinctive.

Wood cross on palm leaves, Palm Sunday. It’s throughout Holy Week, writes Lauren Inexperienced, “that the spiritual leaders appeared to entice Jesus in not solely violating the legal guidelines of Moses, Jewish legislation — however Roman legislation as properly.” (iStock)

The Orthodox Holy Week begins the Saturday earlier than Palm Sunday with a service commemorating the elevating of Lazarus. Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, have been shut associates of Jesus. 

The Bible does not illuminate far more on their relationship besides to say that he beloved them. When Jesus lastly arrives in Bethany to their residence, Lazarus had been lifeless 4 days. Martha meets him outdoors the home and berates Jesus for not arriving sooner. 

“Lord, should you had been right here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”

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Jesus solutions her, “Your brother shall rise once more” — after which, “I’m the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, although he die, but he shall dwell” (John 11).

Individuals ran to inform everybody they knew.

Bethany was about two miles from Jerusalem and the Jewish temple, the seat of spiritual energy. When individuals noticed a person being raised from the lifeless, the information unfold like wildfire. 

Individuals ran to inform everybody they knew and particularly in Jerusalem, the place town was full of worshipers coming to the one Jewish temple on this planet for Passover.

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Constantinou writes in her e-book, “Solely the Orthodox Church celebrates the Saturday of Lazarus, illuminating not solely the religious significance however the historic connection between the elevating of Lazaus and the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem.”

Sufficient to set spiritual leaders on edge

Now the stage is about. 

Jesus enters Jerusalem, driving on a donkey no much less, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy, “See, your king involves you, righteous and victorious, lowly and driving on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey!”

It is sufficient to set spiritual leaders on edge, as a result of they know the prophecy — they know what Jesus is doing. Additionally they know the individuals see it as properly.

They need Jesus put to loss of life. However they cannot do this with out the assistance of the Romans.

So, it’s throughout this week that the spiritual leaders appeared to entice Jesus in not solely violating the legal guidelines of Moses, Jewish legislation — however Roman legislation as properly. 

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They need Jesus put to loss of life. 

However they cannot do this with out the assistance of the Romans.

Lazaurus is the primary catalyst. 

Lent is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving as preparation for the upcoming celebration of Easter. Holy Week, partially, commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem after he raised Lazarus from the lifeless.  (iStock)

The second is the cleaning of the temple when Jesus overturns the cash tables and says, “My home must be a home of prayer, however you have got made it a den of thieves.”

The temple was an enormous complicated occupying 1 / 4 of the land of Jerusalem. For individuals touring far distances to make their passover sacrifices, many could not carry the animals, so that they purchased them on the temple. Generally they needed to alternate cash similar to we do at the moment, touring from the U.S. to Europe, {dollars} for Euros.

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However this sort of exercise just isn’t what Jesus is indignant about. It is the corruption of the excessive monks and chief monks — those that acquired rich off the temple operations. These are the lads who hated Jesus.

Throughout this week they attempt to entice him, catch him saying one thing seditious. 

Mentioned Constantinou, “They have been apprehensive that he may begin a revolt and this is able to result in them dropping their energy and their positions, which primarily centered across the temple, and that great quantity of extraordinary energy that they’d politically, religiously and all the cash that flowed in from the temple.”

So throughout this week they attempt to entice him, catch him saying one thing seditious. One of many traps is sending a scribe, a lawyer, to ask, “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar?”

If Jesus says “no,” then he is an enemy of Rome and might be accused of mounting an rebellion. 

Only a few days earlier than his arrest, Jesus was hailed as a hero when he entered Jerusalem with throngs waving palms and shouting hosannahs. (iStock)

If he says “sure,” then he is downgraded within the eyes of the individuals, for the individuals hated Rome and its oppressive rule. 

However Jesus famously asks to see a coin. The coin has Caeasar’s picture. He says, “Render below Caesar that which belongs to Caesar. And render unto God that which is God’s.”

We bear God’s picture. Due to this fact, we belong to God.

Theologians say that Jesus is saying to the spiritual leaders, and to us, that picture bearing is essential. The coin bears Caesar picture. It belongs to him. 

However we bear God’s picture. Due to this fact, we belong to God.

They have been stumped.

What the spiritual leaders did — and why 

Constantinou offers many extra examples of the spiritual leaders making an attempt to confuse Jesus. However every time Jesus reveals that he has the theological higher hand, an understanding of Scripture far deeper, wider and better than anybody has proven beforehand.

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Due to that, his loss of life sentence is a foregone conclusion. However the spiritual leaders cannot arrest him in broad daylight whereas the crowds are close to. 

They have to do it at evening, when he is unprotected, and earlier than the Sabbath and Passover.

All throughout Holy Week, Christians learn Bible passages that describe Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem — and the times main as much as his loss of life and resurrection.  (iStock)

It is now Thursday — the day of the betrayer. 

Judas Iscariot was one of many 12 apostles. He is a personality within the drama that some individuals have tried to grasp and sympathize with. However Constantinou could have none of it. Plain and easy, she mentioned, “He did for the cash!”

She instructed “Lighthouse Religion,” “If you’re a Christian and also you imagine that the Bible is an impressed phrase of God and that it’s trustworthy and traditionally correct, you can not prepare dinner up these causes as a result of there’s one motive and one motive solely that is given to us within the Bible, and that’s cash.”

Judas goes to do his soiled work. It’s evening. It’s quiet. 

So after the Apostles share the Passover meal within the higher room — what Christians name “the Final Supper” — Judas goes to do his soiled work. It’s evening. It’s quiet. 

Judas leads the arresting guards to the Mount of Olives the place Jesus and the opposite apostles are. Jesus is arrested. His followers scatter.

A mockery of justice

Jesus’ trial is for essentially the most half a mockery of justice. Jewish legislation says you can not convict somebody on the idea of just one witness. There have to be at the least two. It takes them some time to seek out two individuals who they coerce to say one thing Jesus did was evil and blasphemous.

The entire witnesses make statements which are half-truths and/or lies. Nonetheless, Jesus is convicted. 

They need him disgraced. They need him crucified.

However the spiritual leaders don’t need him simply convicted: They need him disgraced. They need him crucified. Jewish legislation says, “Cursed is anybody who’s hung from a tree.” 

Crucifixion was not simply sluggish torture, it meant an individual was cursed by God. And no messiah would ever undergo such a destiny.

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The person for the job was the governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate. Pilate is Roman, the image of Roman oppression to the Jewish individuals. However he is realized to work with the Jewish chief monks and the excessive monks to maintain order among the many individuals. Each have benefited from the association. 

Jesus is a risk to that.

Crucifixion was not simply sluggish torture, it meant an individual was cursed by God. And no messiah would ever undergo such a destiny. (AP Picture/Gerald Herbert, File)

Constintinou says it is clear from Scripture that Pilate has no thought who Jesus is till the spiritual leaders carry him and demand he be put to loss of life. He had no motive to take action. 

Jesus wasn’t mounting an rebellion. 

He wasn’t telling individuals to not pay their taxes. There could be no motive for Pilate to be involved about this nation rabbi.

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So even Pilate will not put a person to loss of life and not using a conviction violating some Roman legislation. A cost of being “an evildoer” simply does not fairly justify the loss of life penalty.

“Now they use this as their trump card and so they drive Pilate to sentence Jesus to loss of life.”

But the spiritual leaders know what is going to persuade Pilate. They know what he fears. He fears Caesar’s wrath. And that is the place they nook him.

Constantinou mentioned, “The Jewish leaders say should you do not put him to loss of life, you might be no good friend of Caesar.”

Pilate knew there was a number one adviser to Tiberius Caesar who had been put to loss of life for treason only some months earlier than this. And the Jewish leaders are hinting as a result of they know in regards to the politics; they know what is going on on in Rome.

“I’m the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, although he die, but he shall dwell.” (iStock)

Mentioned Constantinou, “Now they use this as their trump card and so they drive Pilate to sentence Jesus to loss of life. It’s after they are saying, ‘You are no good friend of Caesar,’ that he instantly to sentences Jesus to loss of life.”

Poor Pilate. He wished to let Jesus go, even supplied to launch him as a Passover present. However as a substitute the spiritual leaders ask for Barabbas, a assassin and insurrectionist.

So much has been debated about who’s chargeable for the loss of life of Jesus. Was it the Romans? Was it the Jews? 

What Constantinou makes clear is that human sin is what condemned Jesus. Delight, greed, self-righteousness, all of the seven deadlies that linger in each human coronary heart.  

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It’s for this motive that Jesus was born — to dwell the life that we could not dwell, one with out sin. 

To die the loss of life that we deserve, excruciating separation from God. 

And to free us from our final enemy, loss of life itself.

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On Easter Sunday, the Orthodox sing the traditional hymn Christos Anesti. 

The phrases are, “Christ is risen from the lifeless, Trampling down loss of life by loss of life, And upon these within the tombs, Bestowing life!”

Jesus’ phrases to Martha are phrases to us as properly: “I’m the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, although he die, but he shall dwell.”